The place itself has some little attraction, from the fact of its being the most civilised town in North Africa. One must admit the French have done much in that respect for Algeria: especially when we recollect that this portion of Africa was formerly a piratical country, famous for all kinds of horrors and outrages, perpetrated by the Algerians upon all unfortunate foreigners, who came within the reach of the Dey's territory! But although the French have succeeded in destroying savage piracy, and introducing European manners and customs, they have as yet failed to give to the natives any idea of civilised morality, or true Christianity in general; inasmuch as the first set of colonists was composed of mere soldiers and stragglers, quite different from those who first colonised North America. As Algiers, in the providence of God, is to be the probable scene of my future labours, I think a few words with regard to the place itself may not be altogether uninteresting to you. This town, rather nicely situated on the declivity of a hill facing the sea, is more than a mile in length; the lower portion of the town is occupied by Europeans; has several long, wide, and regular streets, and the houses are built in quite European style, whilst the upper parts are mostly occupied by Moors; the streets are tortuous, narrow, dark, and dirty, as in all Oriental places. The population of Algiers, which consists of more than 100,000, is of a mixed race of Arabs, Moors, Turks, Jews, and all sorts of Christians. The number of Jews is reckoned to be only 7,000 who are permanently settled; but there are many of those who are constantly coming and going from the interior. They have a good number of synagogues, schools, and rabbis, some of them are maintained at the expense of the French Government, who lately built for them a splendid large synagogue; both the Arabic and the French are spoken by the native Jews. They are proud of the liberty which they enjoy under their present masters; but, alas! they are still bound in the fetters of Judaism and superstition, and ignorant of Him who alone can make them free indeed. As soon as I got a little settled, I began, in the Lord's name, to visit some of them in their shops. I tried to introduce myself to them as a stranger friend to form their acquaintance, and to gain first their confidence, and by degrees I hope to be able to introduce to them the message of grace and salvation without its being repelled. A few have promised me to return the visit, but with some exceptions they have not as yet done so, which is, perhaps, owing to their being so much occupied with their solemn fasts and feasts just now. trust that the Lord will open a door of entrance for me amongst them, and that I may be the means of doing good to many Jewish souls. Here I must also inform you that there is a Presbyterian Chapel in Mr. Weiss's house, where I lived. Mr. Weiss has been the means, under the blessing of God, in gathering a small congregation, composed mostly of persons who were formerly Roman Catholics, and it is delightful to see how this little faithful band of believers are interested in the cause of Christ. I I As there are a great many Spaniards here, I was induced to hold a Spanish divine service every Lord's-day. commenced last Sunday, and there were above a dozen present. I hope that in the course of time (D.v.) I shall be able to induce the Jews to attend some lectures which I mean to deliver in Arabic. In the meanwhile I must content myself to do what I can amongst them in a quiet manner, praying that the Lord may make the preaching of His word effectual and triumphant over Judaism, Mahomedanism, and Romanism, and other false religions, and Christ rule from pole to pole, and from the rising to the setting of the sun, JEWS SEEKING AND EVADING THE TRUTH. ONE of the Missionaries writes:-"I had a long conversation with a Jewish gentleman and his wife, who appeared to listen with attention, until a personal application was attempted, when the gentleman used these memorable words: It is not advisable to enter much upon these matters, or to dwell much on such questions; for if the subject has once possessed the mind, it is not easy to get rid of it again, and a man may be disturbed by it, and full of unrest all his life long."" NOTICES. TO THE OFFICERS OF ASSOCIATIONS, COLLECTORS, AND OTHER FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY. The Accounts of the Society for the current year will be closed on the 31st of March. Meanwhile, the Committee respectfully invite attention to the fact that the additions made to the number of Missionaries, and the expenses necessarily incurred by their foreign travels, will render an increase of funds essential. The continuance, and, if possible, an increase, of those kind and cordial exertions by which the Society has been hitherto sustained, is therefore earnestly solicited. The Resident Secretary will be obliged by early remittances of sums which may come to hand. All Orders to be payable to Mr. GEORGE YONGE, at the Chief Office. Collecting Cards for New Year's Gifts will be forwarded on application. THE MONTHLY PRAYER-MEETING will, D.V., be held in the Office, No. 1, Crescent Place, on Wednesday evening, November 16th, at seven o'clock, when, in addition to united prayer, it is proposed that the monthly reports of the London and other missionaries shall be read. This will give an additional interest to the meeting, and will, it is hoped, induce the attendance of many who delight to watch the progress of Christian effort among the People of the God of Abraham. We ask their presence-we need their prayers. FAVOURABLE communications have been recently received from Algiers and Oran. Mr. JOSEPH KOPPEL has been accepted as a missionary, and is about to leave for France. CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID OF THE SOCIETY. From Sept. 23rd to Oct. 23rd, 1859. THE Author of this most interesting Memoir having kindly presented the copyright to the Society, a THIRD EDITION, with additions, is now in the press, and will be published speedily. Apply at the Office, or to Mr. Snow, Paternoster Row. London Published by JOHN SNOW, 35, Paternoster Row. Printed by Charles Adams and William Gee, at 23, Middle Street, West Smithfield, E.C.-No.167-November 1, 1855. Rev. J. C. Harrison Rev. J. A. Tipple " The Jewish Herald. PUBLISH YE, PRAISE YE, AND SAY, O LORD, SAVE THY PEOPLE, THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL." PUBLISHED UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR THE OFFICE:-No. 1, CRESCENT PLACE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON. No. 168.] DECEMBER 1, 1859. [Price 1d. OUR MISSION S. ON a suggestion by some of our readers, we propose to give the precedence in each Number to Missionary intelligence. The review of the past year, as a fragment of this Society's history, presents some bright lines, which we can trace only to the Divine goodness smiling on the humblest efforts of those who seek His glory: while following them onward we are cheered in the prospect of their issue. The soul converted under our instrumentality is born for an eternity of bliss; and on its course shall beckon many into the way of life; and thus in an infinite progression may that one fact of a sinner converted add, by the grace of God, innumerably to the ransomed around the throne. Another Our Herald presents many illustrations of these sentiments. feature in our grateful retrospect is that presented by the awakened interest on behalf of the Jews, evident in every direction whither the Society's agents have gone. This we expect will tell favourably on the pecuniary resources of the Society; it has secured a large measure of believing and loving prayer on behalf of Jews, in all the variety of states in which the Missionaries describe them to be; and we believe that the very fact of the Jew, in his former, his present, and his future condition, being brought out to view, is pregnant of spiritual instruction and benefit to those who have entered into Israel's privileges, and are invited to learn Divine wisdom from his eventful history. The Society has been enabled to enlarge the number of its Missionaries, although at considerable expense, from the cost of foreign travel, freightage, &c. Humbly would we desire to pursue the path marked out for us by the Word of God, by the footsteps of Immanuel, and by tokens of the guidance and influences of the Holy Spirit. Our Monthly Prayer Meeting in the Office (the 3rd Wednesday in every month, at 7 o'clock) is assuming a more lively and earnest character, and the hope is cherished that, ere long, prayer meetings may exist among the Jews themselves. We now invite attention to the following extracts from recent intelligence. We should be glad, if space allowed, to present information of a VOL. XIV, NEW SERIES. VOL. V. similar character from the records of kindred societies, who are working with us to the same results in dependance on the same Spirit. Grace and peace be with them all. BRESLAU. Mr. SCHWARTZ narrates an affecting instance in which the Jewish missionary appears to have been the minister of saving mercy to a Gentile physician just before he entered an eternal world: My illness, a few years ago, brought me in contact with a medical man who attended me, and to whom, under God, I owed my speedy recovery. Ever since that time, he felt exceedingly attached to us, and he never missed an opportunity, when time allowed, to have friendly intercourse with us. I soon learnt how to value his friendship, as he was a man of the highest honour; but my feelings were distressed when I found that he entertained infidel views, and, moreover, belonged to the Romish community. In the course of time, however, (as he was a man of candour, who loved truth, and as his infidelity proceeded mostly from the abuses and idolatry of the Catholic Church,) I found means to lead his mind away from that unhallowed channel, to the pure fountain of Truth, opened by the Saviour in the New Testament, and I had, by the grace of God, the satisfaction to find that the seed of the Gospel did not fall upon barren soil, but promised to bring forth fruit ripe for eternal salvation. Some time since, I presented him with a Bible, on his birth-day, with which he was greatly pleased, and which became the subject of much study to him, and he then gradually found the truth in Christ Jesus, and sincerely embraced it. Not long after this, for his great merits, he was knighted by His Majesty the King of Prussia, and he often remarked to me, that the Bible I gave him was of more value to him than the bestowed favour of knighthood. Last Saturday I had occasion to visit him, but felt no inclination to go, for fear of disturbing him, but Mrs. Schwartz persuaded me, and wished likewise to accompany me, but gave no particular cause why she almost insisted, and we went. When we arrived there we found him in bed, and he was complaining of pain in his heart, and found some difficulty in breathing. I treated it lightly, and thought it arose from a cold, especially as it was only the day before that he was taken ill. But he seemed to entertain different views. I spent at his bedside about an hour, spoke to him of the fleeting days of our lives, directed his attention to eternity, and prayed with him for his recovery. He was still very lively, and upon my leaving him, begged me soon to return again, which I also promised. Little did I, or he, think that this was to be our last meeting on this earth; for when I saw him again he was a corpse. On the Lord's day morning I received the overwhelming and affecting intelligence that my dear and most valued friend Dr. was no more. On the evening before, a few hours after we had left him, he suddenly uttered a violent shriek, and expired. He was, however, fully prepared for death and eternity, and I have every reason to believe that he is now amongst the "spirits of the just made perfect." Such are the outlines of this case, which I would not withhold from you, and which you also will doubtless find interesting, though it does not relate to a son of Abraham. IBRAILA. The Rev. A. GELLERT, in an affectionate and grateful communication, thus writes of the severe trial through which he has been passing, of the kind attentions of Mr. Davidson, and of the present state of his mission. It has pleased the Lord to let me feel His hand very heavy upon me, perhaps more so than at any other time in my life. I saw my dear companion, to whom Providence had bound me since my 16th year, in a most heartrending state. I watched day and night at her death-bed, as I might have called it then. I witnessed the struggle between the immortal spirit and its earthly tabernacle, before its departure and winging away to its eternal home. Blessed |